Spring construction



Oct. 9, 1945.

A. H. HABERSTUMP ET AL SPRING CONSTRUCTON 5 Sheets-Sheet l VM A ORN Filed April '7, 1942 0ct 9, 1945 v A. H. HABERSTUMP ETAL 2,386,456

SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 7, 1942 3 sheets-sheet 2 ATTOR 5- A. H. HABERSTUMP ETAL 386,456

oct. 9, 1945.

SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed April '7. 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ct. 9, 1945 s 'PATENT OFFICE SPRING CONSTRUCTION Alfred H. Haberstump, Detroit, Morris K. Jessup, Grosse Pointe, and Nicholas Wolofski, Detroit, Mich., assignors to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application April 7, 1942, serial No. 438,010

7 Claims.

This invention relates to spring constructions, and particularly to a spring construction comprising a base frame from which spring strips project, for engaging and supporting a frame having a spring surface formed of like spring strips. y

The spring strips of the present invention are similar to the zig-zag type of spring strip illustrated, described and claimed inthe Karl Kaden Reissue Patent No. 21,263, issued November 14, 1939, and under which the assignee of the present invention is an exclusive licensee for the automotive industry. The construction of the present spring units from the zig-zag type of spring strip embodies first, the formation of suitable base and spring supporting frames which are spaced apart by additional lengths of the spring strips which are disposed between the frames. A shallow construction is produced which has the desired supporting qualities and resiliency, and which is extremely rugged and not prone to failures.

In 'all of the constructions the top surface is formed of strips of zig-zag formed wire, the ends of which are interconnected by a frame, sections of frame, or by coil springs or other resilient members. Arcuately disposed strips of the zigzag wire have the ends presented upwardly when supported on a base frame or sections thereof. One' arm of the upwardly projecting spring portions is attached to theouter end of the top spring strip and border element while the other arm is connected to the spring strip which forms the surface medially of its ends. Resilient support is thereby provided to the ends of the top frame and to the central portion of the strips which form the spring surface of the frame.

The upwardly presentingspring strips may -be anchored to the base frame at a. single point to permit the rocking of the strips when loaded and the deflection of the surface to conform more nearly to the contour of the person occupying the cushion. The central portion of the upwardly presented strips may be anchored at a plurality of points to have the portions projecting upwardly therefrom operate as separate resilient elements independently of each other. It is within the purview of the invention to separate the top and bottom frames by individual spring elements which are angularly disposed therebetween or by lengths of strips which are sinuously positioned relative to each other between the top and bottom spring strips of the top and bottom frame. In all of the constructions a rugged spring construction is provided, having a spring surface which is resiliently supported on a base frame,

with the frames spaced a minimum distance from each other.

Accordingly, the main objects of this invention are; to provide a spring construction of top and bottom elements which are resiliently spaced a minimum distance apart; to provide a -spring construction having a top surface formed. of zigzag spring strips which are individually positioned and spacedl relative to each other by additional zig-zag strips upon which they are supported; to form a spring structure from a top frame having strips of sinuously formed wire extended thereacross and supported on upwardly presented similar spring strips which are attached to the ends ofthe strips and frame and to the medial portion of the strips; to provide a top and base frame which are spaced apart by arcuately disposed spring strips aligned with additional spring strips disposed across the top frame and connected thereto at the ends and near the mid portions of the stripsrto form a spring construction from arcuately disposed, upwardly presented spring strips, the central portion of which is pivotally disposed on a base and the projecting ends of which are attached to spring strips at their ends and near the midportion thereof; to form a -spring construction from top and bottom spring strips spanning a wire frame and spacing the spring strips and frame from each other by angularly disposed sections of like spring strips; and in general, to provide a spring construction which is rugged, simple in construction, and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of this invention will be either specifically pointed ot or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings', wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken plan view of a spring construction embodying tion;

features of this inven--Vl Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure iltrated in Fig. taken on the line H thereof;

Fig. 7 is abroken plan view of a spring construction, similar to that illustrated in Fig). 1,

showing a still further form which-this invention may assume; i

' Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7, taken on the line 8-8 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a further form of this invention; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of thestructure shown in Fig. 9, taken on the line II--II thereof.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a spring structure is illustrated comprising a base frame I5 and a top frame i9 made from wires formed into rectangular shape. The base frame has pairs of wires I1 disposed between the opposite sides thereof, while normal to the pairs of wires I1 a bracing wire lI8 joins the wires andthe opposite sides of the bottom frame I9. The wires are preferably secured to the frame and to each other in a conventional manner. such as by welding. The pairs of wires I1 support the arcuately disposed zig-zag springv strips I9 through the attachment of a convolution thereof to the wires by the bands 23. The top frame I6 supports a plurality of the zigzag spring strips 2i across opposite sides of the frame in aligned relation with the spaced strips I9. 'I'he end portions 22 of the strips I9 are secured to the opposite sides of the border frame I6 by securing bands 23 which also secure the strips 2i to the frame. Similar rbands 23 secure the ends of the portions 2t of the strips I9 to the medial portion of the strips 2i. The portions 22 of the strips I9 provide resiliency to the edge of `the top frame I6 while the portions 24 provide additional support to the medial portion of the strips 2i.

The springs i9 provide the necessary rigidity as well as resiliency to the top surface of the spring unit which is of shallow depth. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the wires I'I and the frame portions I5 and I6 to which the 'spring strips are attached may be provided with offset portions which prevent the units formed of the strip 2i and the supporting strips I 9 from shifting on the base or the top frame. This eliminates the spring ties or wire clips which were employed heretofore for connecting'the series of spring strips together for distributing the load and positioning the strips relative to the supporting frame.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a construction similar` to that shown in Fig. 1, is illustrated, with the exception that a smaller base frame 26 is employed to which the supporting springs I9 are attached by the bands 23 to be free to rock thereon. The medial portion of the frame 26 may be provided with a bracing wire 21 secured thereto by the bands 23. Not only is resiliency and support provided by the arcuate strips I9, but the strips are free to rock upon the frame 26 so as to distribute the load over the portions 22 and 24, depending upon the .points at which the load is applied. In

. assassin Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the structure illus- A springs I9 is secured to a pair of wires I1 attached to the base frame Il while the other series of theI spring elements I9 are attached to a single wire 28 which is substituted for the pair of wires I1. The spring elements I9 which are ,secured to the wire 2l have the portion 24 not only secured to the medial point of the elements 2i' but also -'to a cross wire 29 which ties the spring strips 2l together and permits the rocking o f the series of elements I9 on the wire 28 as a unit when loaded. 'I'he spring elements I9 attached to the wires I'I have the end portons 24 and 22 independently sprung as in cantilever suspension. A wire 3| braces the wire 28 to the pair of wires I1.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a still further form of conwith regard to the structure of Fig/s. 1 to 6 inthe structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, each portion 22 and 24 of the spring I9 is independently sprung from the pairs of wires I1. In Figs.

v 3 and 4 portions 22 and 24 of the strips I9 operate in conjunction with each other relative to the point of applied load since they are free to rock about the base supporting frame 26. Otherwise .the structure is the same as that hereinabove elusive, and are herein illustrated as independently supporting a plurality of spring strips 33. 'I'he spring strips are interconnected at their ends by a length of coil springs 34 which is wound thereover. 'Ihe end portions 24 of the strips I9 are secured to the spring strips 33 by bands 23. The strips are interconnected substantially on the center line by a wire 35 vabout which a coil spring 36 is wound to secure the wire to a convolution of the strips. Soft edges lare provided to the top ends of the strips 33 when interconnected by the strips of coil springs 36. Further resiliency is provided to the top surface by the spring strips I9 which are supported in pivotal relationon the spring surface 32 by the bands 23 which extend around the wire of the strips 'in a manner to permit the wire to turn therein. Not

only are the spring elements I9 free to rock to provide additional resiliency to the top surface,

but the support for the spring strips I9 being resilient also adds to the resiliency provided by the spring strips.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further form of construction, that wherein wires 39 are substituted for the coil springs 34 at the edge of the top frame, and a wire 39 employed in place of the wire 35 attached to he spring strips 33 and to the end of the portio 24 of the element I9. The

spring elements I 9 are secured lby the bands 23 to A the spaced wire 4I and to the ends of the zig-zag spring strips 42 which form abase support therefor. The spring elements I9 are free to rock on the wires 4I and spring strips 42 to distribute the deection oi' the spring strips 33 when loaded in proportion to the applied load; The strips 33 deflect in unison with each other since they are tied together by the wires 33.. and 39.

In all of the constructions herein illustrated and described the spring structure is formed of a top and bottom element which are closely disposed to each other to provide shallow depth to the construction. Spring strips made of wire bent in lzig-zag formation form thertop surface of the assembly' while sections of the `zig-zag spring strips are connected to these spring strips and the bottom elements. 'I'he interconnecting strips are so constructed and.. disposed as `to retain the top elements separate from the base element while reinforcing the top spring strips and providing the proper amount of resiliency. The

spring strips and border wires are preferably se cured together by metal bands which retain them in position relative to each other. The frame fand supporting wires may have' oil'set portions throughout their length to provide additional asl -surance againstshifting of the'wiresand bands 2,388,456 A I .l

to said support and with the end portions disrelative to each other., In this manner the spring strips forming the surface are maintained in spaced relation without the vuse of .the 'intercon- .necting coil springs or clips which are normallyy employed. It is, however, within the purview of the invention to employ hog rings 51 and wire clips 58 tov interconnect the spring strips to the border frame and to each other when such interconnecting is desirable.

We claim asfo'ur invention:` 1. In a spring construction, a b'ase frame, base support including pairs of adiacent'wires 'spanning said base frame, arcuate spring strips having their central portionssecured to said wires l, 'to rhave the ends disposed upwardly, and substantially flat spring strips having their ends and central portions connected to the ends of said yupwardly disposed portions of said arcuate strips.

2. In a spring construction, a hase frame made of wire having pairs of wires disposed thereon interjacent its edges, rows of arcuate Fspring strips having their central portions rigidly secured to said wires with portions outwardly of said central portions projecting upwardly, spring strips` aligned with and secured at their ends to some of 'the ends of said arcuate strips, and means. for securing other of the ends of said arcuate strips to the central portions of `said spring strips.

3. In a. spring construction, a base frame made ,of wire having pairs of wires disposed 'thereon interjacent' its edges, rows of arcuate spring strips rigidly secured-to said wires with the end portions projecting upwardly, spring strips aligned with and secured to the ends of said arcuate strips, and means for interconnecting the ends and central portions of said strips to the upwardly projecting portions of the arcuate strips.

4. A spring construction including a pase support, arcuate spring strips aligned with each other in spaced rows secured at their central portions posed outwardly thereof and extending upwardly, spring strips having their ends and central portions resting on the ends of the arcuate spring strips, and means for securing the ends and central portions of said spring' strips to the ends of said arcuate strips.

5. In a spring construction, a base frame, a base support including pairs of adjacent wires spanning said base frame, arcuate spring strips having their central portions secured tosaid wires with the' end portions disposed outwardly thereof and extending upwardly, substantially at spring strips connected at their ends and medial porof the arcuate spring strips each vof which is aligned with one of said strips.

7. A spring construction including a base frame, supporting means spanning said frame,

arcuately disposed strips having their central portions secured in aligned relationship to said supporting means, the portions outwardly of said central portions of said arcuate strips extending upwardly, additional spring strips disposed in parallel relationship and secured to the ends of 4the arcuate spring strips each of which is aligned with one of said strips, and means for interconnecting the ends of said additional strips to forma unit spring surface. v l ALFRED H. I-IABIIRSTUMP.

. MORRIS K. JESSUP.

NICHOLAS WOLOFSKI. 

